Now the island of Ireland has
been set in the west. As Adam's Paradise stands at the sunrise so Ireland
stands at the sunset. And they are alike in the nature of the soil, to wit,
as Paradise is without beasts, without a snake, without a lion, without a dragon,
without a scorpion, without a mouse, without a frog, so is Ireland in the
same manner without any harmful animal, save only the wolf, as sages say.
Rawlinson B 512 fol 97 b1 line 14

Niell Trassach (or Frassach or
Frosach) of the Cenél Eóghain was High King of Ireland 759-765 AD. So-called
from certain miraculous showers that fell in his time (a shower of honey, a
shower of money, and a shower of blood). After seven years' reign, retired to
St. Columb's Monastery at Hye, in Scotland, A.D. 765, where he died in A.D.
773.

The first reference to a Tracey ancestor in the Annals is:

884 AD Treasach, son of Becan,
chief of Ui Bairche Maighe, was slain by Aedh, son of Ilguine. Of him Flann,
son of Lonan, said:

A heavy mist upon the province of Breasal, since they slew at
the fortaliced Liphe,

Heavy the groans of
Assal, for grief at the loss of Treasach.

Wearied my mind, moist my
countenance, since Treasach lies in death.

The moan of Oenach Lifi
all, and of Leinster to the sea, is the son of Becan.

However, the separate
tribes may be related. It may be possible that the Traceys of the Ui Bairrche
were dispersed to Munster, Connacht and Ulster. It would be interesting if a
genetic survey could shed some light.

The Érainn
(earlier Euerni or Iverni) have also been referred to as the Menapii, Bolgi,
Builg, Belgae and Firbolgs by certain annalists and historians. The early
annalists tell us that Firbolg people survived as distinct tribes well into
early historical times. In southern Ireland they may have descended as the
Corca Loigde, and other early tribes of Munster, as well as the Osraighe (who
are also given a Laigin origin). In east Ulster, they were said to descend as
the tribes of the Dál Riata and the Dál Fiatach (aka Ulaid). In Connacht the
tribes of the Ui Maine and the Conmaicne are often claimed as their
ancestors. In Leinster, they were the Ui Failge, Ui Bairrche and Ui
Enechglaiss to mention but a few.

Tracys
descended from the Milesians

The Goídel (Gael or
Féni) or Milesians, sons of King Milesius, are said to have come from either
northern Spain or southern France to the island of Ireland. Of the Milesians,
who invaded the Tuatha De Danann lands, hEber and hEremon divided the land
between them - hEremon getting the Northern half of the island, and hEber the
Southern. The Northeastern corner was accorded to the children of their lost
brother, Ir, and the Southwestern corner to their cousin Lughaid, the son of
Ith. Of the Goídel are said to include the various tribes of the Connachta
(Northwest, West and Midland) and the Eoghanact (Southwest).

General References:

Anon (1942) Book of Ui Maine. Stationary Office, Dublin.

Cronnelly, RF (1864) History of the Clans. Dublin.

D'Alton, E.A. (1911) History of Ireland from the Earliest Times
to the present day. Gresham, London.

Haverty, Martin (1860) The History of Ireland, ancient and
modern. Duffy, Dublin.